The proposal by WestWind Energy proposes that the site be split into two sections, with 24 turbines located just north of Elaine and the remaining 40 located east of Yendon. The wind turbines would be mounted on towers up to 85 m high and have a rotor diameter of up to 95 m. Each wind turbine would have a rated capacity of between 2 to 3 MW.

WestWind Energy says it would consider a wind turbine model such as the Enercon 82, which has a rated power of 2.05 MW. This would result in the total rated power of the wind farm being 131.2 MW, capable of producing electricity at least equivalent to the annual consumption of 75,000 average Victorian households. According to WestWind Energy, this would displace more than 534,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

WestWind Energy currently has two other wind farm projects in the area; the Moorabool Wind Project, located south of Ballan and 25-30 km southeast of Ballarat and is currently undertaking consultation with those in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site; and the Mt Mercer Wind Farm, located in the Shire of Golden Plains approximately 30 km south of Ballarat in Western Victoria, for which construction is hoped to begin in late 2009.

The estimated cost to develop the Lal Lal wind energy facility is $350 million with between $180- $200 million to be spent locally.

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“Community concerns about potential landscape and visual amenity and environmental impacts have been addressed and appropriate conditions have been placed on the planning permits, including landscape, flora and fauna and traffic management requirements,” said Mr Madden.

Construction is expected to commence in 2011.